Open HandYou and Me (Trustkill)By: Mike SOSOpen Hand's sophomore effort bridges the gap between Black Sabbath and Queens of the Stone Age, creating a tantalizing new array of colors and shapes in rock 'n' roll. Driving stoner metal meets indie rock sweetness on such tracks as the title cut, a swirling reminder of what Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins could've been, while the interplanetary groove of "Jaded" is the best attempt at space rock this side of Hum. There's also a strong sense of female rawk on this disc, thanks to the band inviting some of their lady friends to the party, who nearly steal the show by lending some empowering pipes to "Tough Guy", "Tough Girl", "Waiting for Katy", and the Fu-Manchu like "Take No Action". Willing to experiment, yet ballsy enough to rock out with unabashed fury, You and Me is a triumphant record for many reasons, but the band's perseverance should be celebrated most here. Hitting their stride at a time where even the existence of this band was in serious doubt, Open Hand's invigorating 14-track collection will put to rest any notion that you had that rock music isn't offering anything exciting lately. Simply put, if you enjoy the basics of rock 'n' roll, there's something on this release you'll fall in love with, if not the entire collection after a few choice spins.